House GOP Freshmen Voice Support for Russia PNTR to Expand U.S. Jobs & Exports

Seventy-three House Republican freshmen wrote to President Obama expressing their commitment to work with him to grant Russia permanent normal trade relations so that the United States can expand export opportunities and job growth. Next month, Russia will join the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the United States must act quickly to take advantage of economic opportunities created by the concessions that Russia made to join the WTO. Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp has committed to introducing a PNTR bill and is working with the White House to find a House Democrat sponsor to ensure a bipartisan path forward on this important jobs bills.

In the letter, the freshmen wrote: “Without authorizing PNTR, U.S. exporters and their workers will not be able to take advantage of this market and the United States will not be able to use the binding dispute-settlement provisions needed to ensure full enforcement of Russia’s commitments…We believe this effort is important to complete a comprehensive trade agenda which will open markets not just in Russia, but across the globe, and will create economic growth and needed jobs here at home.”